Duplex flat construction



Jan. 26, 1954 F, v HlNTON 2,666,960

DUPLEX FLAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Deo. 21, 195o Kee IN VEN TOR.

Cam,

Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUPLEX FLAT CONSTRUCTION Francis J. Hinton, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Application December 21, 1950, Serial No. 202,044

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in duplex flat constructions, and more particularly to a duplex fiat construction having a unique stairway and door arrangement to provide complete separation of the rst floor and second floor apartments while affording a separate front entrance for each of the two apartments and a common rear entrance which provides access to the building basement, the lower apartment kitchen and the stairway to the upper apartment.

Duplex flats are popular and economical forms of buildings for housing two families and include a lower oor apartment or flat and a second floor apartment or flat. In a duplex flat building it is desirable to provide complete privacy and separation as between the upper and lower apartments, and this is normally accomplished by a separate front entrance and stairway for the upper flat and a rear stairway to communicate with the kitchen portion of the upper at with a common rear entrance for the latter, for access to the kitchen of the lower fiat and to a basement stairway. Obviously, with the rise in building costs and the space consumed by the provision of separate front and rear stairways, the construction cost of a conventional duplex flat with separate front and rear stairways may be prohibitive. In less expensive conventional duplex flat constructions the front stairway for the upper apartment is eliminated and access to the upper apartment may only be had through the rear stairway which communicates with the kitchen and living room of the upper apartment and consequently requires that guests desiring to reach the living room of the upper flat must pass through the rear entrance or use a common front entrance.

With the foregoing in mind the primary object of the present invention is to provide a duplex flat construction which eliminates the need for separate front and rear stairways to the upper apartment but nevertheless provides separate front entrances for both the upper and lower apartments with a common rear entrance and stairway giving access to the kitchen of the lower apartment, the kitchen of the upper apartment and the basement of the building, while preserving privacy and separation as between all portions of the upper and lower apartments.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a duplex flat construction having but a single stairway for the upper apartment, which stairway is so arranged and located, in conjunction with partitions and doors, as to compactly allow the provision of separate entrances to the living room portions of both apartments and a common rear entrance from which access to the kitchen portions of both apartments or to the basement is afforded.

A further more specic object of the invention is to provide a duplex flat construction wherein the second floor apartment has a stair hall communicating with a single stairway and which stair hall is accessible to both the living room of the upper apartment and the kitchen thereof.

A further more specific object of the invention is to provide a duplex flat construction having a single stairway for the upper apartment communicating with a stair hall over a lower stair hall to which access from the exterior of the building is afforded by a rear door, said lower stair hall being separated from the stairway to the upper apartment by a partition with a controlling door therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a duplex flat construction which in an economical and space-saving manner provides for privacy as between the upper and lower apartments while affording access to the desired front and rear portions of both apartments, which utilizes inexpensive structural arrangements to accomplish the desired end without sacricing desirable space, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved duplex flat construction and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in both of the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary first floor plan view of the improved duplex fiat construction with the walls being shown in section; and

Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary second floor plan view of that part of the duplex flat building which corresponds to and is located over the portion of the first floor flat shown in Fig. 1, with the walls being shown in section.

It should be understood that the present invention pertains to a duplex fiat construction regardless of the speciiic room and architectural arrangements thereof, and pertains more particularly to the hereindescribed novel arrangements of doors, stairway, partitions and halls which permit of separate entrances to the living room quarters of both ats or apartments and a common rear entrance affording access to the rear stairway and the kitchen quarters of both apartments. The arrangement disclosed in the 3 drawing is merely typical and the invention is not limited thereto. In general, however, the upper and lower flats or apartments are symmetrically arranged.

The numerals and 5 indicate the side enclosing walls of the building structure and the numeral 6 indicates the front wall thereof and all of the walls to eiTect the complete enclosure of the building are continued vertically upwardly above the second oor fiat or apartment. Suitable windows 'l are arranged in desired portions of the various outside walls. The door plan arrangement for a portion of the rst floor flat or apartment is shown in Fig. 1. In one of the outside walls dening the lower apartment living room 8 is an entrance opening controlledY by a door 9 whereby guests desiring accessto the front portion of the lower iloor apartment may enter directly thereinto. The exact location of the lower floor front entrance door 9 is not critical. The living room 8 of the lower iioor apartment, in addition to the exterior walls 5 and 6, is deiined by interior Walls or partitions IG and II. It will also be observed that the side wall 5 preferably terminates short of the front exterior wall 6` and the same, together with a short front side wall I2, provides an entrance alcove I3 for the upper apartment, as will hereinafter appear. Arranged parallel to the front wall S and extending from the interior wail II toward the exterior side wall 5 are spaced walls Irl and I5 defining a stairwell divided by an intermediate partition I6 parallel to the walls Ia and I5. An opening in that portion of the wall Ill which is adjacent the alcove I3 is controlled by a door I1 which leads from the exterior of the build- Ving into a small hall I3 from which extends, be-

tween the wall Irl and the partition I6, a stairway IS leading to a landing 4S which is intermediate the oor levels of the lower iioor apartment and the second floor apartment. Also controlling the lower stairway hall I3 in an opening therefor in the partition IS is a door 2G separating a rear lower stair hall 2I from the lower front small hall I8. The side wall 5' in the lower apartment, in registry with the rear lower hallway 2I, is provided with a rear doorway controlledby arear door 22.

Rearwardly of the interior partition l5 and dened by other walls and partitions is the kitchen 23 of the lower apartment and the latter communicates with the lower stair hall 2| by means of a doorway in the partition I5v controlled by a door 2i. Between the partitions i5 and I6 in the lower apartment and accessible from the lower stair hall 2I is a stairway 25 leading to the basement quarters for both apartments.

From the description thus far given it will be apparent that access to the front or living room portion of the lower apartment is gained through the front door 8. Access to the kitchen 23 of the lower apartment or to the basement is controlled by the rear door 22 which opens into the lower stair hall 2i from whence a person may directly descend the stairway 25 to the basement of the building or pass through thekitchen door 24 into the kitchen 23 of the lower apartment. Moreover, the small front hallway I3 is separated from the lower floor hall 2I by a door 20 which may be lock-controlled on either side for privacy, but, through control of the lock in said door 2U, a person from the upper oor apartment, descending the stairway I9 into the front hall I8 may, by opening the controlled door 28,

K reach the stair hall 2| and from thence descend to the basement via the basement stairway 25, or get to the exterior of the building through the rear entrance 22. The latter is the procedure for merchants and persons Wishing to make deliveries to the kitchen of the upper apartment and the same class of persons may secure entrance through the rear door 22, stairhall 2|, and door 24 to the kitchen 23 of the lower apartment.

If guests desire to reach the front or living room portion of the second licor apartment this is readily accomplished by entrance through the door Il which is 01T the alcove I3 at the front of the building. With the door 2B closed and locked, such guests may not reach the rear lower stairhall 2I and are thus shut off from access to the basement or to the kitchen of the lower apartment and` may merely utilize the stairway I9 leading to the second floor apartment.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be evident that the exterior Walls 5, 5 and 6, as well as the remainder of the walls to form the complete building enclosure, outline the second oor apartment which includes an upper living room 25 and an upper living room 26 and an upper kitchen 2l'. On the second door level there are upwardly extending partitions II', ill', I5 and I5 which correspond with the corresponding partitions of the lower floor apartment bearing the same unprimed numerals. The partitions !4, l5 andi ES define the stairwell which includes the stairway I9 leading from the hall I8 of the lower floor apartment upwardly tothe previously mentioned landing 46 and from thence there is a stairway 28 leading to a second floor stair hall 29. From the latter, through a door` opening in the partition I5 controlled by a door 36, access to the kitchen 2l. to the upper apartment may be had. Also, for guests, from the second iloor stair hall 2:19, the guests may pass through a doorway in the partition I4 controlled by a door 3i directly into the living room 26. of the upper apartment.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the improved duplex nat construction requires space for but a single stairwell in which are located the stairway to the basement and the stairway from the rst licor small hall to the second iioor stair hall and from the latter access may be had to either the front or living room quarters of thev second floor apartment or the rear or kitchen portion thereof, with the result that via a front door Il', guests to the second oor apartment, utilizing the stairs I9 and 28, reach the second; floor landing- 29 and via the upper front door 3'! may gain access to the living room quartersof the upper apartment. On the other hand, tradesmen, utilizing the same stairway and the rear door 22 and intermediate door 2E), may reach the second oor stair hall and gain access to the upper kitchen 2'! through the door 3E). Via the same stairway anyone in the second floor apartment may reach the lower hall I8 and from thence through the door 261:0 the basement stairway 25 or rear door 22.

As before mentioned, the lower ilocr apartment has the front door 9 for guests desiring` to reach the front or living room portion of the apartment and the common rear door 22. gives access to the basement stairway 25. or to the kitchen door Mci the lower apartment. rThe partitions and doors in the stairwell, particularly the intermediate partition l5 and controlled door 2E, provide for complete4 privacy and separation as between the lower and: upper. apartments. The stair well is l located-laterally of the; living rooznsof both apartvalcoves.

ments and between the kitchens and living room Also, the stairs in the stair well communicate with first and second floor stair halls which are between the partitions deiining the stair well, said stair halls communicating with the kitchens of the respective apartments.

By means of the improved duplex ilat construction there is economy in space and construction costs, but a single stairwell is required although both apartments have separate front entrances, and a common rear entrance, and there is complete privacy and separation as between the accessible portions of the several apartments. The improved duplex ilat construction is moreover simple and novel and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is cl'airned'as the invention is:

1. In a duplex at building having a common rear entrance and separate front entrances for both the upper and lower flats, a lower hall into which the rear entrance and the front entrance for the upper at both directly open, a stairway to the second floor flat accessible from a portion of said lower hall, a stairway descending directly from a portion of the lower hall to the building basement and disposed below a portion of the first-mentioned stairway, an upper hall to which the first-mentioned stairway extends, a stair well enclosing all of said stairways and contiguous with said halls, partitions on the second floor enclosing the stair well leading to the second floor, partitions on the first iloor enclosing the stair well leading to the basement and to the second floor, said second floor partitions and said iirst floor partitions being vertically aligned, and doors controlling access from said upper hall to both the front and kitchen quarters of the upper flat.

2. In a duplex flat building including a basement and lower and upper flats, each of the latter having a front living room and a rearwardly disposed kitchen, a stairwell and hall area immediately interposed between the kitchens of both ilats and portions of the living rooms of both flats, the building having a common service entrance in one of its walls and separate front entrances for both the upper and lower flats in other walls, a stairway to the second floor at within said stairwell, an upper hall within the hall area to which said stairway extends and providing access to both the kitchen and living room of the upper flat, partitions in the upper flat enclosing the stair well area therein, partitions in the lower fiat enclosing the stair well area therein, said upper nat partitions being vertically aligned with said lower iiat partitions, contiguous front and rear lower halls within the hall area, the front lower hall providing direct access to said stairway and to the front entrance for the upper flat and the rear lower hall providing direct access to the service entrance and to the kitchen of the lower flat, a partition separating the front and rear lower halls, and a door in said partition.

3. In a duplex flat building including a basement and lower and upper flats, each of the` latter having a front living room and a rearwardly disposed kitchen, a stairwell and hall areas immediately interposed between the kitchens of both flats and portions of the living rooms of both iiats, the building having a common service entrance in one of its walls and separate front entrances for both the upper and lower ats in other walls, a stairway to the second floor flat within said stairwell, an upper hall within one of said hall areas to which said stairway extends and providing direct access to'both the kitchen and living roomof the upper iiat, contiguous frontand rear -lower halls within another hall area, the front lower hall providing direct access to said stairway and to the front entrance for the upper flat, a basement stairway in said stairwell and underlying a portion of the inst-mentioned stairway, the rear lower hall providing direct access to the service entrance, to the kitchen of the lower flat and to said basement stairway, a partition separating the front and rear lower halls, a door in said partition, partitions in the upper flat enclosing the stair well area therein, and partitions in the lower flat enclosing the stair well area therein, the last-mentioned partitions in the upper flat being vertically aligned with the corresponding partitions in the lower ilat.`

4. In a duplex apartment building including a basement and rst and second floor apartments with the kitchen of the second Hoor apartment superimposed relative to the kitchen of the first floor apartment, a stairwell located forwardly of the apartment kitchens and adjacent a side wall of the building and housing a stairway to the building basement and a stairway from the rst floor to the second floor, the stairwell also dening on the rst licor level a pair of lower oor hallways and a second floor stairhall on the second oor level, the latter providing direct access to the second floor apartment kitchen and the Stairway, and the lower oor hallways providing direct access to all of the stairways and to the lower floor apartment kitchen, a door controlling exterior entrance and egress to one of the lower floor hallways and basement stairway, a door providing exterior entrance and egress to the upwardly directed stairway, a front entrance door for the lower oor apartment, partitions in the upper flat enclosing the stair well area therein, and partitions in the lower flat enclosing the stair well area therein, the last-mentioned partitions in the upper flat being vertically aligned with the corresponding partitions in the lower flat.

5. In a duplex apartment building including a basement and rst and second floor apartments, both of the latter having front living rooms and rearwardly disposed kitchens, portions of the respective kitchens and living rooms being separated, a stairwell located forwardly of the apartment kitchens and in the space which immediately separates said living rooms and kitchens and housing a stairway to the building basement and a stairway from the rst iloor to the second floor, there also being in said spaces a pair of adjoining lower oor hallways and a second floor stairhall, the latter providing direct access to the second floor apartment kitchen and to the second oor apartment living room and tc the lastmentioned stairway, and the lower iloor hallways providing direct access to all of the stairways and to the lower floor apartment kitchen, a door controlling exterior entrance and egress to one of the lower floor hallways, a door providing exterior entrance and egress to the other of said lower iloor hallways and to the upwardly directed stairway, a front entrance door for the lower iloor apartment, partitions in the upper flat enclosing the stair well areaJ therein, and partitions in the lower flat enclosing the stair well area therein, the last-mentioned partitions in the upper at being vertically aligned with the corresponding partitions in the lower at.

6. In a duplex apartment building including a basement and rst and second floor apar ments with. the kitchen. ofthe.: second :door apart.- ment superimposed relative to the kitchen; off the rst oor apartment, a. stairwell located forwardlly'of, the apartment kitchens andad-jacent aside Wall of the building and housing a stairway to the building basementy and a stairway froml the rst floor to thev second oor, theV stairwell:V also defining on the rst oor level a pa-ir of lower oor hallways and a second floor-stairhall, the lower floor hallways being separated by ai partition With a door therein, the second floor hall.- way providing direct access to the second: floor apartment kitcherr and tothe stairway, and the lower oor hallways providing direct accessT to all of the stair-ways and'v to the-lower floor apartment kitchen, a= service door controlling; exterior entrance and egress to one of' the lowerv iloor hallways a front: door providing entrance and Y the last-mentioned partitions in the upper at being vertically aligned with the corresponding partitions in the lower flat.

FRANCIS J. HINTON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITEDl STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 416,795 Milde Dec. 10, 1889 432,774 Smith et al July 22, 1890 606,273 Cassel i June 28, 1898 

